Is Java the correct language for this?

[Nutthick]

I want to write a web based system, that allows users to log in (authenticated through username and password) and then to interact with a Windows style GUI. Data entered online would be either stored in a file or in a database (mySQL?) and would be available to print. The information stored would be specific for each day, with past days able to be called up. Non-Administrator users could view parts of the data, but could not alter it. My idea was that by using Java the system could be accessible to both Windoze and Mac users.

Is Java the correct language to do this? I would like to run the system on Linux if possible.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Sheco]

If you can come up with an acceptable interface built out of HTML/CSS and you just need to get the project done as quickly as possible, then you're learning curve will be much more favorable to do it in old style ASP.

The reason I say this is that you can leverage your VB6 knowledge by doing your ASP in VBScript. You can even put your VB6 skills directly to use by coding business logic into a VB6 ActiveX DLL project.

On the other hand this would not be the best approach if time to completion is not much of a factor and you are looking to expand your programming horizons.

 

[Nutthick]

Sheco - You've got it perfectly, time isn't too much of an issue, and my job means that I often have to learn a new language just for a specific project and then (sometimes) never use it again. It keeps me on my toes. The Linux migration is something that is going to become an issue, so a Java/mySQL solution seemed to bridge the gap.